Detachable recycling container

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides dental amalgam recycling systems, useful for recycling particles from a dental liquid effluent drawn, for example, from a suctioning device.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.16/941,522, filed Jul. 28, 2020, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S.application Ser. No. 16/033,823, filed Jul. 12, 2018, now issued as U.S.Pat. No. 10,779,923, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. applicationSer. No. 15/730,828, filed Oct. 12, 2017, now issued as U.S. Pat. No.10,646,313, which claims the benefit of and priority to provisionalpatent application Ser. No. 62/414,712, filed on Oct. 29, 2016, andprovisional patent application Ser. No. 62/406,990, filed on Oct. 12,2016. This patent application further claims priority from patentapplication Ser. No. 29/585,674, filed on Nov. 28, 2016, now issued asU.S. Pat. No. D840,534. This patent application further claims priorityfrom patent application Ser. No. 29/585,668, filed on Nov. 28, 2016, nowissued as U.S. Pat. No. D835,779. This application further claimspriority to patent application Ser. No. 29/585,659, filed on Nov. 28,2016, now issued as U.S. Pat. No. D835,778. This patent applicationfurther claims priority from patent application Ser. No. 29/577,701,filed on Sep. 14, 2016, now issued as U.S. Pat. No. D848,612. Thispatent application further claims priority from patent application Ser.No. 29/567,544, filed on Jun. 9, 2016, now issued as U.S. Pat. No.D840,533. This patent application further claims priority from patentapplication Ser. No. 29/565,622, filed on May 23, 2016, now issued asU.S. Pat. No. D835,264.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to systems and apparatus suitable to removeparticles from effluent waste, and particularly, to remove amalgam andother metallic particles and other abrasive solids from dental officesuction effluent. The system also comprises a self contained recyclingcontainer to facilitate customer regulatory compliance and environmentalsafeguards.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Dental amalgam is a dental filling material used to fill cavities causedby tooth decay. It has been used for more than 150 years in hundreds ofmillions of patients around the world.

Dental amalgam is a mixture of metals, consisting of liquid (elemental)mercury and a powdered alloy composed of silver, tin, and copper.Approximately 50% of dental amalgam is elemental mercury by weight. Thechemical properties of elemental mercury allow it to react with and bindtogether the silver/copper/tin alloy particles to form an amalgam. Seehttp://www.fda.gov/Medica/Devices/ProductsandMedical_Procedures/DentalProducts/DentalAmalgam/ucm171094.htm,accessed Sep. 9, 2016.

Amalgam is used less often than in the past, mostly becausetooth-colored materials now can be used. However, the newer materialscan't be used for all dental situations, amalgam is less costly thannewer materials and it lasts longer, especially in teeth that undergo alot of pressure and wear from chewing.

Better dental health overall coupled with increased demand for moremodern alternatives such as resin composite fillings (which match thetooth color), as well as public concern about the mercury content ofdental amalgam, have resulted in a steady decline in dental amalgam usein developed countries, though overall amalgam use continues to riseworldwide. Stein, P S; Sullivan, J; Haubenreich, J E; Osborne, P B(2005). “Composite resin in medicine and dentistry”. Journal oflong-term effects of medical implants. 15 (6): 641-54.doi:10.1615/jlongtermeffmedimplants. v15.i6.70. PMID 16393132.

Although amalgams are less frequently used in developed countries fornew dental fillings than in the past, amalgams continue to make up aportion of the particle component of dental office effluent mainlybecause of the fact that old fillings made of amalgams are drilled outand removed in the effluent waste when new fillings are effected toreplace the old. Further, as noted above even under current dentalpractice, an amalgam is preferred for some tooth filling situations.

Because mercury is a poison that can accumulate in living tissues andcan pose a health hazard to species in a food chain exposed tomercury-containing compounds, and since humans are inevitably at the endof the food chain, it follows that effluent containing amalgams can posea health hazard to the community at large. Also, certain metals such assilver are commercially valuable if recovered in quantity. For thosereasons, it is desirable to devise systems, apparatus and processes forremoving amalgams from dental office effluent and efficiently recyclingthose amalgams.

In addition to removing amalgams, other matter disposed into dentaloffice suction effluent includes aluminum oxides used in air abrasiontreatments and other solid waste material. These solid materials tend towear out or damage vacuum pumps and other equipment downstream of thedental chair suction apparatus, and also constitute effluent watercontaminants. Therefore, it is desirable for the apparatus to removesolid abrasive material and other particulate waste from the dentaloffice suction effluent.

The World Health Organization also points out that amalgam separators,installed in the waste water lines of many dental offices, dramaticallydecrease the release of mercury into the public sewer system. However,critics say that the separators are still not mandatory in some statesof the United States. “Purchasing, installing and operating dentalamalgam separators: Practical issues”. The Journal of the AmericanDental Association. 134 (8): 1054-65.doi:10.14219/jada.archive.2003.0319. PMID 12956345. Recently, the EPAhas enacted nation-wide regulations requiring amalgam separators indental offices.

Previously known apparatus for removing amalgam particles from dentaloffice suction effluent are known to include a collecting tank forcollecting a days accumulation of suction effluent from one or moresources of such waste. The waste is sucked from the dental chair suctionapparatus and into the collecting tank by a vacuum pump. When the vacuumpump is turned off, an outlet valve is opened and the accumulated wasteis deposited into a separation device intended to separate metalparticles from the effluent liquid. Flow into the separation device isinduced by the head of fluid in the collecting tank. Particles passingthrough the separation device are separated from the waste by gravityand settle to the bottom of the separation device. The flow rate isdependent on the head inside the collecting tank; as the headdiminishes, the flow rate also diminishes. The changes in flow rate areundesirable because the particle separation rate is affected, and thesystem becomes prone to plugging when the flow rate decreases. Also,since the waste can be deposited only when the vacuum pump is off, wasteis usually moved to the separation device at the end of the day. As aresult, the collecting tank and separation device tend to be undesirablylarge and the whole process is time consuming.

Another known apparatus is a centrifuge type system that separatesheavier metal particles from effluent liquid by collecting the particlesat the peripheral wall of the centrifuge. This apparatus does noteffectively separate lighter particles, and is expensive to purchase andoperate due to the complexity of its mechanical parts.

Yet another known apparatus uses a dedicated mechanical pump to suctionwaste liquids through a separator device. Again, a dedicated pump can beexpensive to purchase and to maintain, and can be undesirablyspace-consuming.

Such known systems can become quite complex, unwieldy and expensive, asfor example that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,885,076 granted 23 Mar.1999. It teaches the use of sedimentation, co-precipitation andfiltration in an expensive complicated apparatus that is probablyeconomical, if at all, only for relatively large installations such as amilitary base dental complex.

U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,692,636 and 6,596,754 are patents that disclose systemsfor removing amalgam from dental office suction effluent.

After collecting the amalgam and other solid waste the dentist is leftwith the problem of what to do with the waste. Either the dentist has todeal with his own hazardous waste or he can send his collected materialto a recycler. In either case, the “collection container” needs to bedisposable and easily replaceable.

Existing recycling programs generally require the provision of bulkyshipping materials and the delivery of those materials to the dentistfor every full container. If such materials are not provided and thematerials are not properly recycled a large part of the benefit ofcollecting the amalgam waste can be lost. It is important that the wasteis recycled under federal guidelines in order to make sure the fullbenefits of amalgam separation are achieved.

Additionally, containers for collection, such as dental amalgamrecycling systems, can be compromised by incorrect installation ormisalignment, which can cause O-rings to deform and/or seal irregularly,and result in leakage.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention overcomes many of the shortcomings of the priortechnology and achieves further advantages that will be apparent afterreviewing the following detailed description.

In one aspect, the invention comprises a dental amalgam recycling systemfor recycling particles from a dental liquid effluent drawn from asuctioning device. In certain embodiments, the dental amalgam recyclingsystem of the invention comprises:

(a) an air-water separator tank for receiving said effluent, saidair-water separator tank having an air-water separator tank inlet influid communication with said suctioning device, an air-water separatortank liquid effluent outlet and an air-water separator tank air outlet;

(b) a detachable recycling container, said recycling container actingprimarily under the influence of gravity to cause settlement of saidparticles; said recycling container having a recycling containereffluent inlet port connected to said air-water separator tank liquideffluent outlet and said recycling container further having an effluentoutlet port;

(c) wherein the air-water separator tank also includes an internalsuction conduit;

(d) wherein the recycling container comprises threads;

(e) wherein the recycling container effluent inlet port and therecycling container outlet port are not the same height.

In certain embodiments, the dental amalgam recycling system furthercomprises (f) a threaded shipping cap, wherein the threads of theshipping cap and the threads of the recycling container arecomplementary such that, when the shipping cap is fitted in place, theshipping cap forms a tight seal with said recycling container.

While in use, the dental amalgam recycling system is functionallyassociated with a vacuum pump having a vacuum pump inlet. The vacuumpump is typically a pre-existing part of the dental office facility. Inparticular embodiments, the dental amalgam recycling system isphysically connected with a vacuum pump via a suction conduit in theair-water separator. In certain preferred embodiments, the suctionconduit is an internal suction conduit within the air-water separator.

In certain embodiments, the dental amalgam recycling system of theinvention further comprise a first plug for said recycling containerinlet port and a second plug for said recycling container effluentoutlet port. Said first and second plugs may be held tightly in place bysaid threaded shipping cap when said shipping cap is fitted in place.

In certain embodiments, the dental amalgam recycling system of theinvention further comprise an O-ring that provides an air and effluenttight seal when said shipping cap is fitted in place.

In certain embodiments, the invention comprises a container, useful as adental amalgam recycling container, comprising threads for attachment ofa shipping cap. In certain embodiments, the dental amalgam recyclingcontainer further comprises two plugs held in place by said shipping capand an O-ring fitted in an O-ring groove to prevent leaks. The dentalamalgam recycling containers of the present invention may furthercomprise a two tier cap that enables people with hands of differentsizes to grip the cap and tighten to achieve a very tight seal.

In certain embodiments, the invention comprises an adapter for anair-water separator tank, wherein the adapter enables a recyclingcontainer without compatible effluent ports to attach to an air-waterseparator tank. Said air-water separator tank may comprise, for example,a component of a dental amalgam recycling system, as described above. Incertain embodiments, the adapter may comprise threads. In alternativeembodiments, the adaptor may be without threads.

As described above, the potential for leakage exists in a collectioncanister such as a recycling container used in the dental amalgamrecycling systems described herein. Such leakage may occur, for example,due to incorrect installation, or due to misalignment of a container andits intended mating partner, such as the air-water separation tank orits intended cap, such as a threaded shipping cap, which may causeO-rings to deform and/or seal irregularly. In order to address thisproblem and/or reduce the potential for leakage, a collection canister,such as a recycling container used in a dental amalgam recycling system,may have one or more irregular ‘keyways’ cast into its outside topmating surface, and the intended mating partner, such as the air-waterseparation tank, or the shipping cap, may have one or more corresponding‘key(s)’ be cast into its mating surface, such that the key(s) andkeyway(s) must be aligned in order for the collection canister (e.g.,the recycling container) and its mating partner (e.g., the air-waterseparation tank; or the shipping cap) to mate properly. This key/keywaysystem can help ensure even pressure across the entire circumference ofthe O-ring surface on each port. Similarly, such key(s) and keyway(s)may be used to ensure proper replacement of the container and/or theair-water separation tank, such that incorrect replacement can beavoided or minimized.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic front view of an embodiment of particle removaland recycling apparatus according to the invention, for particular usein a dental office.

FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of an embodiment of particle removal andrecycling apparatus according to the invention, for particular use in adental office.

FIG. 3 a is a schematic view of an embodiment of a universal adapter forfitting various different sized recycling containers to the air-waterseparator of the present invention.

FIG. 3 b is a schematic view of an alternative embodiment of a universaladapter for fitting various different sized recycling containers to theair-water separator of the present invention.

FIG. 4 a is a schematic view of an embodiment of a recycling containerand cap system of the invention.

FIG. 4 b is a schematic perspective depiction of an embodiment of arecycling container and cap system of the invention.

FIG. 5 a is a schematic inside view of an embodiment of a recycling capfor the recycling containers of the invention.

FIG. 5 b is a schematic depiction of a recycling cap according to theinvention fitting on a partial view of a recycling container accordingto the invention.

-   -   1—Backplate    -   2—Waste Inlet (from dental practice)    -   3—Air/water Separator Top    -   4—Top Support Bracket    -   5—Air/Water Separation Tank    -   6—Suction tube    -   7—Air/Water Separator Base    -   8—Outlet Tube (to vacuum system)    -   9—Recycling Container Top Portion    -   10—Lower Support Bracket    -   11—Restrictor    -   12—Detachable Recycling Container    -   13—Retaining Pins (2)    -   14—air-water separator tank effluent outlet port    -   15—recycling container inlet port    -   16—recycling container outlet port    -   17—recycling container threads    -   18—two tier recycling cap    -   19—O-ring groove    -   20—cap plugs    -   21—O-ring

FIG. 6A is a schematic view of a first embodiment of a detachablecontainer according to the present invention, viewing the top of thecontainer at an angle.

FIG. 6B is a schematic view of the same embodiment, viewing the top ofthe container from directly above.

FIG. 7A is a schematic view of a second embodiment of a detachablecontainer according to the present invention, viewing the top of thecontainer at an angle.

FIG. 7B is a schematic view of the same embodiment, viewing the top ofthe container from directly above.

FIG. 8A is a schematic view of a third embodiment of a detachablecontainer according to the present invention, viewing the top of thecontainer at an angle.

FIG. 8B is a schematic view of the same embodiment, viewing the top ofthe container from directly above.

FIG. 9A is a schematic view of a fourth embodiment of a detachablecontainer according to the present invention, viewing the top of thecontainer at an angle.

FIG. 9B is a schematic view of the same embodiment, viewing the top ofthe container from directly above.

FIG. 10A is a schematic view of a fourth embodiment of a detachablecontainer according to the present invention, viewing the top of thecontainer at an angle.

FIG. 10B is a schematic view of the same embodiment, viewing the top ofthe container from directly above.

FIG. 11A is a schematic view of a fifth embodiment of a detachablecontainer according to the present invention, viewing the top of thecontainer at an angle.

FIG. 11B is a schematic view of the same embodiment, viewing the top ofthe container from directly above.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION WITH REFERENCE TO THE DRAWINGS

According to one aspect of the instant invention, an apparatus isprovided for removing and recycling metal-containing particles and otherwaste particles from effluent, particularly effluent from a dentaloffice. While herein the term “metal particles” may frequently beemployed, it is contemplated that the apparatus is capable of separatingother solid particles from effluent liquid.

According to one aspect of the invention, an apparatus for removingmetal particles and other solid particles from liquid suction effluentcan be installed in a dental office using a pre-existing suction/vacuumpump system. The apparatus may share a common vacuum pump withconventional dental chair suction apparatus, without interrupting theuse of suction equipment at the dental chairs.

Removal of solid particles from liquid suction effluent is effected bysedimentation.

In accordance with a one embodiment of the invention, the dental officesuction effluent is passed from dental chair suction equipment outletsto an air water separator tank via a suitable inlet port for the tank.The air-water separator tank in turn passes effluent into a sedimentarydeposit tank, closed on all sides when in use and preferably readilydetachable for emptying or replacement.

In certain aspects of the instant invention the sedimentary deposit tankhas a secondary function as a recycling container. In another aspect ofthe invention this recycling container can have features built in tomake recycling easier and to reduce the amount of packaging and waste inthe recycling system.

In another embodiment of the invention designed to minimize the spacerequired to install the amalgam recycling system the air-water suctiontube is internalized—within the air-water separator tank.

FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 shows two views of the separation apparatus accordingto the present invention in detail. Effluent from the dental chairs anda quantity of air are sucked through a suction apparatus exhaustconduit, through an air-water separator tank inlet 2, and thence into anair-water separator tank 5. The liquid effluent passes out of theair-water separator tank 5 via air-water separator tank outlet port 14,while air passes downstream via the air suction tube 6 while maintainingconstant vacuum upstream of amalgam separator.

The air-water separator tank effluent outlet port 14 passes effluent bygravity out of the air-water separator tank 5 and into the detachablerecycling container 12 through the recycling container inlet port 15 onthe container top portion 9 for target particle separation bysedimentation. After the effluent passes through the inlet port 15 andthrough the container inlet conduit in the interior volume of the mainbody of the detachable recycling container 12, solids settle andaccumulate in the bottom of the interior volume of the main body of thedetachable recycling container 12. Liquid content of waste flowsprimarily by gravity, although intermittently assisted by vacuum throughRestrictor 11 which slows the flow rate of liquid to assist insedimentation process and ultimately “clean” effluent discharge throughthe recycling container outlet port 16 on the container top portion 9.

Outlet ports 16 and inlet port 15 can be a variety of shapes and sizes,square, oval (as depicted), round or even more unusual shapes like astar. Preferred ports are those that provide a tight seal, allow foreasy removal, and do not break. Oval or round are preferred embodiments.Round are most preferred.

A vacuum at the outlet tube 8 is generated when the vacuum pump isoperating, thereby sucking air out of the air-water separator tank 5 viasuction tube 6 while maintaining vacuum upstream of amalgam separatorapparatus. Effluent from the recycling container 12 passes through therestrictor 11 where remaining non-settable fine particles are removedfrom the effluent and into the recycling container outlet port 16 to bedischarged from the apparatus via common outlet tube 8. Matter sucked bythe vacuum pump, generally free of removed solids, is discharged viavacuum pump into a municipal drain of the public sewage system.

The system is provided with a simple back plate 1 for easy dental officeplacement as well as removable retaining pins 13 that engage radiallyprotruding structures of the recycling container to ensure the recyclingcontainer does not detach from the air-water separation tank 5 whenthere is no vacuum in the system.

In certain embodiments, the recycling container ports 16 and 15 may bedifferent heights in order to aid in alignment of the detachablerecycling container 12 in the air-water separator base 7. In a preferredembodiment, the outlet port 16 engages before the inlet port 15 whileduring removal the inlet port 15 disengages first. This causes a smallvolume of fluid to be pulled out of the collection container back intoair-water separator tank 5 creating head space and eliminating upwardforce of vacuum which eases removal of recycle container 12 by operator.Existing devices require rocking, wiggling or applying extensive downforce for removal of recycle container 12.

In one preferred embodiment of the invention designed to minimizerecycling costs and waste, the recycling container/sedimentary deposittank has threads 17 built into the generally cylindrical upper region ofthe container top portion 9 to enable the addition of a liquid tight topfor shipping.

FIG. 3 shows a schematic diagram of an adapter 25 according to theinvention to enable the use of recycling containers from a variety ofsources that are lacking in correctly shaped ports 16 and 15 orotherwise are unable to fit the air-water separator tank 5 according tothe invention due to shape differences.

FIG. 4 a shows a schematic diagram of the recycling container and capsystem (see FIG. 5 for more cap 18 detail) according to the presentinvention. The cap 18 is a two tier shape to allow for a tight grip byboth a big and smaller hand in order to achieve a strong seal asrequired by the invention. An O-ring 21 is provided and fits into anO-ring groove 19 on the recycling container 12 above a flange structure22 that protrudes radially away from the central axis of the main bodyof the recycling container 12. The removable retaining pins 13,described above with respect to FIG. 2 , fit within the region below theflange structure 22. Plugs 20 are used to provide a first leak proofseal for the recycling container 12. These plugs 20 are held in place bythe cap 18 when the cap is threaded onto the recycling container asdepicted in FIG. 513 .

FIG. 6 through FIG. 11 show several embodiments of irregular keyways 23on a recycling container. The inlet port 15 and the outlet port 16 areon the circular upper surface of the container top portion, and theirregular keyways 23 are cast into the outer top mating surface.

Generally, under present practice, the dental staff will not be able toremove deposited sediment from the recycle container nor removeaccumulated particle residues from the restrictor unit themselves. Thus,it is desirable that such removal be done by a competent effluentresidue processing facility. Therefore, under present practice, it isexpected to be preferred that the recycling container with its enclosedrestrictor unit be removed when full, or periodically replaced by freshtanks from time to time as required. The spent tank with an accumulationof metallic and other particles can then be sent to a processingfacility for proper disposal of the targeted metallic particles, such asmercury, and recovery of precious metals such as silver.

Although the sedimentary deposit process is effective to remove asatisfactorily high proportion of the target particles desired to beremoved from the effluent, the recycling container desirably includes anoutlet restrictor right in the chamber to catch any floating materialsas well as any other materials that did not settle out.

If the recycle container is not changed as required or filled beyondnormal capacity, waste liquid from dental practice may back up into airwater separator tank. Should this occur, effluent overflows through theair suction tube and into the outlet port and is discharged into thevacuum pump draw line and thence eventually into the municipal drain.However, it is desirable that the system should operate in such a manneras to avoid having the air-water separator tank become completely full,since effluent exiting through the air outlet port will containparticles that will not be separated by the separator. If, however, sucha by-pass condition occurs at no time will the suction generated by thevacuum pump be lost or interrupted at the dental office.

In a further embodiment of the invention oriented towards large-scaleinstitutional applications, in which many dental chairs or other sourcesof effluent are connected to the same suction and drain services,several parallel-connected recycling containers and associatedapparatus, each such composite apparatus including a air-water separatortank and preferably one, or alternatively two attached recyclingcontainers, may be operated in parallel to provide sufficient treatmentcapacity for large effluent volumes.

All publications, web-sites, patents and patent applications cited inthe specification are hereby incorporated herein by reference in theirentirety for the disclosure for which they are cited.

Having read the above specification, other alternatives and variants ofthe above described methods and apparatus suitable for practicing themethods will occur to those skilled in the technology. Suchalternatives, modifications and variants fall within the scope of thepresent invention.

The invention as described above also includes the followingnon-limiting claims, which describe particular embodiments of theinvention.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A detachable dental-amalgam container foruse with a dental amalgam separation system, the dental amalgamseparation system having a system inlet for receiving dental amalgameffluent, an air-water separation tank for holding the dental amalgameffluent received from the system inlet, a system outlet, a vacuumsource acting on the system outlet for moving fluid from the dentalamalgam effluent toward the system outlet, and at least one retainingpin for use with the detachable dental-amalgam container, the detachabledental-amalgam container comprising: a main body having a central axisand an interior volume for receiving the dental amalgam effluent fromthe air-water separation tank; a container top portion located at a topof the main body, the container top portion including a generallycylindrical upper region having a circular upper surface from which acontainer inlet port and a container outlet port extend away from themain body, the container outlet port being positioned nearer to thecentral axis of the main body than the container inlet port, thecontainer inlet port being positioned nearer to a periphery of thecircular upper surface than the container outlet port, the container topportion further including at least one radially protruding structurelocated below the generally cylindrical upper region, the at least oneradially protruding structure for engaging the at least one retainingpin of the dental amalgam separation system to ensure the detachabledental-amalgam container does not become detached from the dentalamalgam separation system when there is no pressure being applied fromthe vacuum source, the at least one radially protruding structure beinglocated radially outward relative to the periphery of the circular uppersurface; a container inlet conduit extending downwardly from thecontainer top portion and into the interior volume, the container inletconduit being coupled to the container inlet port, the container inletconduit and the container inlet port for transferring the dental amalgameffluent from the air-water separation tank to the interior volume ofthe main body; and a restrictor located within the interior volume ofthe main body and fluidically coupled to the container outlet port, therestrictor configured to remove fine particles from the dental amalgameffluent as fluid from the dental amalgam effluent is moved toward thecontainer outlet port due to the vacuum source.
 2. The detachabledental-amalgam container of claim 1, wherein the container inlet portand the container outlet port extend above the circular upper surface bythe same height.
 3. The detachable dental-amalgam container of claim 1,further including a pair of plugs configured to seal a container inletport and a container outlet port of a filled detachable dental-amalgamcontainer.
 4. The detachable dental-amalgam container of claim 3,further including a cap configured to retain at least one of the plugson the filled detachable dental-amalgam container.
 5. The detachabledental-amalgam container of claim 4, wherein the cap has an insidesurface with a first circular wall and a second circular wall, the firstcircular wall placed so as to engage a first one of the pair of plugs onthe container inlet port and the second circular wall placed so as toengage a second one of the pair of plugs on the container outlet port.6. The detachable dental-amalgam container of claim 1, wherein thecontainer top portion has a maximum outer dimension that is greater thana maximum outer diameter of the main body.
 7. The detachabledental-amalgam container of claim 1, wherein the container outlet portis configured for fluidic coupling to the system outlet of the dentalamalgam separation system that transfers fluid from the dental amalgameffluent to a municipal water disposal system.
 8. The detachabledental-amalgam container of claim 1, wherein the at least one radiallyprotruding structure includes a flange extending in a direction awayfrom the generally cylindrical upper region.
 9. The detachabledental-amalgam container of claim 8, wherein the flange extends entirelyaround the container top portion.
 10. The detachable dental-amalgamcontainer of claim 1, wherein the container top portion furthercomprises a keying feature for mating with a corresponding keyingfeature on the dental amalgam separation system, the keying featurebeing located below the generally cylindrical upper region and beingoutside the periphery of the circular upper surface, the detachabledental-amalgam container is capable of mating securely with the dentalamalgam separation system when the keying feature and the correspondingkeying feature on the dental amalgam separation system are mated. 11.The detachable dental-amalgam container of claim 10, wherein the keyingfeature includes a recess formed in an outermost periphery of thecontainer top portion.
 12. A detachable dental-amalgam container for usewith a dental amalgam separation system, the dental amalgam separationsystem having a system inlet for receiving dental amalgam effluent, anair-water separation tank for holding the dental amalgam effluentreceived from the system inlet, a system outlet, a vacuum source formoving fluid from the dental amalgam effluent through the system outlet,and at least one retaining pin for use with the detachabledental-amalgam container, the detachable dental-amalgam containercomprising: a main body having a central axis and an interior volume forreceiving the dental amalgam effluent from the air-water separationtank; a container top portion located at a top of the main body, thecontainer top portion including a generally cylindrical upper regionhaving an upper surface from which a container inlet port and acontainer outlet port extend away from the main body, the containeroutlet port being positioned nearer to the central axis of the main bodythan the container inlet port, the container inlet port being positionednearer to a periphery of the upper surface than the container outletport, the container inlet port and the container outlet port bothincluding an external O-ring at upper portions thereof that areconfigured to help provide a seal between the detachable dental-amalgamcontainer and the dental amalgam separation system while the vacuumsource acts upon the dental amalgam separation system to move fluid fromthe dental amalgam effluent toward the system outlet, the container topportion further including at least one radially protruding structurelocated below the generally cylindrical upper region, the at least oneradially protruding structure defining a pin-receiving region therebelowfor receiving the at least one retaining pin of the dental amalgamseparation system to ensure the detachable dental-amalgam container doesnot become detached from the dental amalgam separation system, the atleast one radially protruding structure is located radially outward fromthe periphery of the upper surface; a container inlet conduit extendingdownwardly from the container top portion and into the interior volume,the container inlet conduit being coupled to the container inlet port,the container inlet conduit and the container inlet port fortransferring the dental amalgam effluent from the air-water separationtank to the interior volume of the main body; and wherein the containeroutlet port is for being coupled to the system outlet port such that thefluid from the dental amalgam effluent is moved from the interior volumeof main body, through the container outlet port, and into the systemoutlet due to the vacuum source acting upon the dental amalgamseparation system.
 13. The detachable dental-amalgam container of claim12, further including a pair of plugs configured to seal a containerinlet port and a container outlet port of a filled detachabledental-amalgam container, and a cap that retains at least one of theplugs on the filled detachable dental-amalgam container.
 14. Thedetachable dental-amalgam container of claim 13, wherein the cap hasinternal threads that threadably mate with corresponding threads on thegenerally cylindrical upper region of the container top portion toretain the pair of plugs on the detachable dental-amalgam container. 15.The detachable dental-amalgam container of claim 12, wherein the atleast one radially protruding structure includes a flange extending awayfrom the generally cylindrical upper region.
 16. The detachabledental-amalgam container of claim 15, wherein the flange extendsentirely around the container top portion.
 17. The detachabledental-amalgam container of claim 15, wherein the flange includes acurved outer surface.
 18. A detachable container for use with a dentalamalgam separation system, the dental amalgam separation system having asystem inlet for receiving dental amalgam effluent, a system outlet, avacuum source for moving-fluid from the dental amalgam effluent towardthe system outlet, and at least one retaining pin for use with thedetachable dental-amalgam container, the detachable dental-amalgamcontainer comprising: a main body having a central axis and an interiorvolume for receiving the dental amalgam effluent from the dental amalgamseparation system; a container top portion located at a top of the mainbody, the container top portion including a generally cylindrical upperregion having a circular upper surface from which a container inlet portand a container outlet port extend away from the main body, thecontainer outlet port being positioned nearer to the central axis of themain body than the container inlet port, the container inlet port beingpositioned nearer to a periphery of the circular upper surface than thecontainer outlet port, the container top portion further including atleast one radially protruding structure located below the uppergenerally cylindrical region, the at least one radially protrudingstructure having a lower surface under which the at least one retainingpin of the dental amalgam separation system is received to ensure thedetachable dental-amalgam container does not become detached from thedental amalgam separation system, the at least one radially protrudingstructure is located radially outward relative to the periphery of thecircular upper surface; and wherein the container inlet port isconfigured to transfer the dental amalgam effluent that is received bythe system inlet into the interior volume of the main body; and whereinthe container outlet port is configured to be coupled to the systemoutlet port such that fluid from the dental amalgam effluent is movedfrom the interior volume of main body, through the container outletport, and into the system outlet due to the vacuum source acting on thedental amalgam separation system.
 19. The detachable dental-amalgamcontainer of claim 18, wherein the container top portion furthercomprises a keying feature for mating with a corresponding keyingfeature on the dental amalgam separation system, the keying featurebeing located below the generally cylindrical upper region, thedetachable dental-amalgam container is capable of mating securely withthe dental amalgam separation system when the keying feature and thecorresponding keying feature on the dental amalgam separation system aremated.
 20. The detachable dental-amalgam container of claim 18, whereinthe at least one radially protruding structure includes a flangeextending away from the generally cylindrical upper region, the flangeincludes a curved outer surface.
 21. The detachable dental-amalgamcontainer of claim 20, wherein the flange extends entirely around thecontainer top portion.
 22. The detachable dental-amalgam container ofclaim 20, further including a pair of plugs configured to seal acontainer inlet port and a container outlet port of a filled detachabledental-amalgam container, and a cap configured to retain at least one ofthe plugs on the filled detachable dental-amalgam container.